Disc Golf Basket Target and Improvement Thereof

ABSTRACT

An improvement to a disc golf basket target or goal, the improvement comprising the construction of the target or goal with a plurality of interconnected horizontal chains perimetrally latched onto each vertical chain. The two categories of chains are linked together at regular, symmetrical intervals so as to form, in the preferred embodiment, an essentially cylindrically-shaped assembly of chains, being referred to as a “basket target.” The basket target and its interconnected receiving grill are concentrically positioned along a vertically-oriented pole. A plurality of connector rings provide, regularly-spaced connections of junctions of the vertical and horizontal chains, so as provide a uniformly increasing resistance as a tossed disc initially strikes and begins penetrating some part of the assembly of chains in the basket target. In this manner, a tossed disc or other object is more readily prevented from traveling through the entirety of the interior of the target or goal.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application claims the benefit of priority frompreviously-filed U.S. provisional patent application, Ser. No.62/689,396, filed on Jun. 25, 2018, and further, claims the benefit ofcontent of said provisional application as though the application fullyappears herein.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION (1) Field of the Invention

The disclosed inventive concept relates to the sport of Disc Golf andthe equipment used in such sport, particularly disc golf targets of theassembled chain type. The sport is played by means of competing playersattempting to toss or throw a disc into, in sequence, several numbereddisc golf “basket targets.” The target comprises a basket-likestructure, usually of an assembled plurality of chains, the assemblysupported atop a vertical pole. As in the more conventional form ofgolf, the players initiate play at a “tee” and proceed toward the firstbasket target. The disc golf course consists of several of thepole-mounted targets inserted at various points over an outdoor landarea. The players compete to determine who can complete the course inthe fewest number of disc throws.

(2) Description of the Related Art, Including Information DisclosedUnder 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98

The following items illustrate or describe systems or devices that beara resemblance to the disclosed inventive concept:

U.S. Pat. No. 4,039,189 (Aug. 2, 1977); Headrick, et al; An entrapmentdevice is provided for use in a flying disc golf game, or the like,

U.S. Pat. No. 6,250,635 (Jun. 26, 2001); Chittenden; A disc golf targetassembly. A plurality of curved support members and chain segmentscooperate to intercept flying discs which enter the target.

U.S. #2003/0025272 A1 (Feb. 6, 2003); Billig et al. An entrapment devicefor entrapping projectile or flying objects employed in a game, such asflying discs employed in the game of disc golf.

U.S. #2015/0367216 A1 (Dec. 24, 2015); Todd; A disc golf target includesa disc-receiving basket which is connected to an upper assembly by avariable length pole so that the distance between said disc-receivingbasket and said upper assembly can be changed.

U.S. #2017/0291082 (Oct. 12, 2017); Curran; A disc golf game systemcomprises two or more elongated poles adapted to be positionable uprighton a surface. Each pole comprises two or more selectively connectablepole segments. At least one pole segment of each pole hascircumferential indicia along at least a portion of a length of the atleast one pole segment of each pole. The indicia forms a target area.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIVE CONCEPT

The disclosed inventive concept discloses a chain-segmented “baskettarget” 1 for receiving a thrown disc, the disc being the type used inthe sport of disc golf. Further, the inventive concept presents animprovement in the “standard,” or commonly used, disc golf targetbaskets.

The device basically is constructed with the coordinated joining of aplurality of vertical chains and a plurality of horizontal chains. Thetwo categories of chains are linked together so as to form anessentially cylindrical assembly of chains, which, along with avertically-oriented upper pole 15 and a receiving grill 30 is referredto as a “basket target 1.” The basket target 1 is positioned atop theupper pole 15. In this manner, participants are enabled to play thesport of disc golf. In the preferred embodiment, the basket target 1 isconstructed with twelve (12) vertical segmented chains, three (3)horizontal segmented chains 7, 8, 9, a rounded support rim 11, and acircular receiving grill 30. Other geometric shapes, including a square,rectangle, or various polygonal structures may be used for defining andconstruction of the support rim 11 and/or receiving grill 30.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE VIEWS OF DRAWINGS AS EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS OFTHE INVENTIVE CONCEPT

FIG. 1 presents a perspective, upward-looking view of the basket target1, showing an upper support pole 15, vertical segmented chains, 2, 3, 4,5, horizontal chains, 7, 8, 9, rounded support rim 11, a circularreceiving grill 30, and the lower pole 18.

FIG. 2 illustrates a clear view of the essential frame of the inventiveconcept, comprising the upper support pole 15, the support rim 11, beams10, a collar 17, sleeve 14, the receiving grill 30, and the lower pole18.

FIG. 3 is an isolated view of the upper support pole 15, further showingthe collar 17, a solitary beam 10 and hook 19 extending outward toconnect to one of the vertical chains 2, 3, 4, S (typ.) which verticalchains are shown attached to a coupler 26 at the lower support pole 18.

FIG. 4 displays the general layout of the array of chains of the baskettarget with the receiving grill 30 eliminated from this view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The objects, features, and advantages of the inventive concept presentedin this application are more readily understood when referring to theaccompanying drawings, which are four (4) in number.

The discussion of the inventive concept will be initiated with FIG. 1,illustrating a completely assembled basket target 1 mounted upon anupper support pole 15. The basket target 1 is a unique assemblage ofvertical columns of chains 2, 3, 4, 5, the vertical chains beingsymmetrically linked to a grouping of horizontal rows of chains 7, 8, 9.

Additional components of the basket target 1 shown include a receivinggrill 30 and a lower pole 18, which pole 18 is a concentric extension ofthe upper support pole 15. The receiving grill 30, in the preferredembodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, is a circular apparatus comprising anupper railing 22, mid-railing 22(a), bottom railing 22(b), vertical bars21, spokes 23, sleeve 14, and inner rail 26. These items collectively,form an overall receiving grill 30.

As an aid in clarifying the explanation of the construction of thebasket target 1, reference is made to FIG. 2, which illustrates a viewof the essential frame of the inventive concept, comprising the uppersupport pole 15, the support rim 11, inner wheel 11(a) beams 10, acollar 17, sleeve 14, the receiving grill 30, and the lower pole 18.

Again referring to FIG. 2, the upper support pole 15 is shown connected,in the preferred embodiment, to a circular support rim 11. A collar 17is permanently affixed to the exterior of the upper support pole 15,level with the circular rim 11. The collar 17 is the common connectingpoint for a plurality of symmetrically-spaced beams 10, which radiateoutward from the collar 17 outward to affix, at regular intervals, tothe inner surface of the collar 11. The outermost end of each beam 10further manifests a hook 19 at its junction with the collar 11. Each ofthe hooks 19 serves as an attachment point for the first end of one ofthe plurality of vertical chains 2, 3, 3, 4, 5. An inner wheel 11(a)gives further rigidity and support to the circular rim 11.

Illustrated in FIG. 2, the upper support pole 15 is shown to extenddownward to the point of its union with a sleeve 14. The sleeve 14 ispositioned directly above, and connected to, the lower pole 18, which isa concentric extension of the upper support pole 15. The sleeve 14 isthe common connecting fixture for a plurality of symmetrically-spacedspokes 23, which spokes 23 radiate outward from the sleeve 14 toward acircular bottom railing 22(b).

At the conjunction of the spokes 23 and the bottom railing 22(b) eachspoke is bent ninety degrees upward to form a vertical bar 21. Each ofthe vertical bars 21 thus formed is further affixed to a mid-railing22(a). Each vertical bar 21 continues further upward to terminate withthe formation of a catch 25. The catches 25 also collectively provide asupport for a planar-oriented upper railing 22. A circular inner rail 26gives further support and rigidity to the spokes 23.

As shown in FIG. 2, cumulatively, the sleeve 14, the upper railing 22,mid-railing 22(a), bottom railing 22(b), vertical bars 21, spokes 23,and inner rail 26 form a retaining grill 30. The retaining grill 30 isessential for catching and retention of the discs or other game objectsflung into the target basket 1.

Owing to lack of available illustrating space to identify each of thevertical and horizontal chains of the inventive concept, tworepresentative renderings of the vertical chains and the horizontalchains are presented in FIG. 3.

As can be deducted from FIG. 3, the two categories of chains, verticaland horizontal, are linked together so as to form acylindrically-shaped, perimetral assembly of chains, which is referredto as a disc golf “basket target” 1. The vertical chains, at theirbottommost end, are further connected to a sleeve 14, the sleeve locatedat the center of a receiving tray 20. The basket target 1, when readyfor use, is positioned atop a vertically-oriented pole 15. As a resultof this arrangement, the basket target 1 provides a receptacle for discswhich are aimed and thrown toward the basket target 1 when playing thesport of disc golf.

In the preferred embodiment, the basket target 1 is constructed withtwelve (12) vertical chains and three (3) horizontal chains 7, 8, 9,connected in planar intervals, to the vertical chains. Each verticalchain is comprised of a plurality of vertical links 6(a), while eachhorizontal chain is comprised of a plurality of horizontal links 6(b).There is no specific limit, requirement, or restriction on thepositioning and quantity of inter-connected horizontal links 6(b) orvertical links 6(b), the number of horizontal chains 7, 8, 9, orvertical chain segments 2, 3, 4, 5. Likewise, there is not set limit onthe extent or length of the span of the vertical chains or thehorizontal chains. The descriptions herein and the drawings areexemplary only of the preferred embodiment of the inventive concept, andnot intended to be limiting in any manner.

In more closely analyzing the array of chains of the basket target 1shown in FIG. 3, it is seen that the representative samples of therespective spans of the two vertical chains comprise a top segment 2, amid-segment 3, a lower segment 4, and a bottom segment 5. These segmentsare formed by symmetrical placement of three connector rings 16, whichjoin with the horizontal chains 7, 8, 9. A first end of each of thevertical chains is connected to a hook 19, which hook 19 is integral toa beam 10, all beams 10 extending from the outer surface of a collar 17affixed near the top of the pole 15. The hooks 19 are affixed to theinner perimeter of the support wheel 11, which is shown in FIG. 1 andalso, in FIG. 2.

The second end of each of the sample vertical chains is attached to acircular coupling 27 which coupling 27 encircles the lower pole 18, justatop a sleeve 14. The sleeve 14 is permanently affixed to the outersurface of the lower pole 18.

In the completely-operational form, the vertical chains (or chainsegments) are regularly spaced around the support wheel 11 and hangdownward to form the perimeter of the basket target 1. The embodiment ofthe target basket 1 shown comprises three horizontal chains 7, 8, 9,equally-spaced and connecting the hanging vertical chains, in the mannerof draperies. Each of the horizontal chains 7, 8, 9 is sequentiallyfastened to each vertical chain shown by means of thepreviously-mentioned spaced-apart connector rings 16. The samevertically-spaced connector rings 16 further simultaneously connect thefour sequential segments 2, 3, 4, 5 of every vertical chain.

Also shown in FIG. 3 are typical horizontal links 6(b) which compriseeach of the horizontal chains 7, 8, 9. The horizontal chains 7, 8, 9 (orchain segments) in the inventive concept provide a restriction on themaximum attainable opening between any two consecutive vertical chains.

In viewing FIG. 4, there is emphasized and depicted a pattern ofnaturally occurring vertical links 6(a), as well as the horizontal links6(b) to form the basket target 1. The receiving grill 30 has beendeleted in FIG. 4 to more clearly show the basket target array ofchains. Noticeable is the exemplary construction using twelve (12)vertical chains, each chain comprising a top-vertical chain segment 2, amid-vertical chain segment 3, a lower-vertical chain segment 4, and abottom-vertical chain segment 5.

Further the exemplary construction feature three (3) horizontal chains7, 8, 9. Each of the twelve vertical chains is comprised of a pluralityof vertical links 6(a), while each horizontal chain 7, 8, 9 is comprisedof a plurality of inter-linking horizontal links 6(b).

As mentioned earlier, the four segments of each of the twelve verticalchains are referred to as a top segment 2, a mid-segment 3, a lowersegment 4, and a bottom segment 5. For each specific vertical chain, itsintegral segments 2, 3, 4, 5 are separated and defined by its associatedconnector rings 16. In the preferred embodiment, the connector rings 16are circular in shape. However, the device will also function asintended with connector rings 16 comprising other open, geometricshapes.

In the preferred embodiment, the twelve vertical chains are regularlyspaced around the support wheel 11 and hang downward by a topmost linkattached to a hook 19. Each hook 19 is integrally attached to ahorizontal beam 10, the beams 10 being symmetrically arranged about theinner perimeter of the support wheel 11. The embodiment of the targetbasket 1 shown comprises three horizontal chains 7, 8, 9, loosely strungabout the perimeter of the hanging vertical chains, in the manner ofdraperies.

In both FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, each of the horizontal chains 7, 8, 9 isshown sequentially fastened to neighboring vertical chains by means ofthe previously-mentioned spaced-apart connector rings 16. Theregularly-spaced connector rings 16, in the shown embodiment, are spacedbetween three vertical links 6(s) for each vertical chain, therebyforming the four sequential segments 2, 3, 4, 5 of every vertical chain.Each connector ring 16 comprises essentially another type of link,wherein the connector ring 16 substitutes for, and performs as, aconnection between two successive vertical chain links, whilesimultaneously substituting for, and performing as, a connection betweentwo successive horizontal chain links.

The disclosed connector rings 16 serve an important purpose in improvingand enhancing the sport of golf. Each connector ring 16, once attachedto the junctions of vertical and horizontal chains, is set to provideuniformly increasing resistance as a tossed disc initially strikes andbegins penetrating some part of the assembly of chains in the baskettarget 1. The maximum attainable opening between vertical chains isthereby limited.

In the fraction of a second that a thrown disc or other game objectpushes further into the assembly of chains, it encounters a rapidlyincreasing resistive force, which force is generated by the weight ofboth the vertical chain segments 2, 3, 4, 5 and horizontal chains 7, 8,9 existing near the point of penetration of the disc. This action, inessence, figuratively amounts to pulling the assembled junctions ofchains at the point of penetration. This force eventually stops the discand drops it into the retaining grill 30 of the basket target 1.

It is important to note that, common to each connector ring 16 there isalso formed a junction consisting of the adjoining of sequentialhorizontal links 6(b) of an associated horizontal chain 7, 8, 9 andsequential vertical links 6(a) of the associated vertical chain. Theinventive concept is an improvement over existing disc golf baskettargets because this arrangement prevents a disc from penetrating twoimmediately neighboring lengths of vertical chains and passing entirelythrough and out the other side of the basket target 1.

While preferred embodiments of the present inventive method have beenshown and disclosed herein, it will be obvious to those persons skilledin the art that such embodiments are presented by way of example only,and not as a limitation to the scope of the inventive concept. Numerousvariations, changes, and substitutions may occur or be suggested tothose skilled in the art without departing from the intent, scope, andtotality of this inventive concept. Such variations, changes, andsubstitutions may involve other features which are already known per seand which may be used instead of, in combination with, or in addition tofeatures already disclosed herein. Accordingly, it is intended that thisinventive concept be inclusive of such variations, changes, andsubstitutions, as described by the scope of the claims presented herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A disc golf game system comprising a target fixedabout a vertical support pole, the target further comprising aspaced-apart series of vertical chain-segments and horizontalchain-segments which form an interior space for receiving a thrown discor other game item used for throwing toward the target. Further,chain-segments of the formed target comprise regularly-spaced,symmetrical intersections which are formed by means of joining thevertical chain segments and the horizontal chain segments. The twocategories of chain segments, upon being joined, form essentially anassembly of chains attached to the upper end of the vertical supportpole.
 2. The disc golf game of claim 1, wherein the intersection meansof joining vertical chain segments and horizontal chain segmentscomprises connector rings constructed so as to be insertable as aconnector between two successive links of a vertical chain segment,while simultaneously being insertable as a connector between twosuccessive links of a horizontal chain segment.
 3. The disc golf game ofclaim 1, wherein a retaining grill is affixed about the vertical supportpole directly below the cylindrical assembly of chains.
 4. The disc golfgame of claim 1, wherein the assembly of chains may form a generallycylindrical shape, a cuboid shape, a spherical shape, or any othergeometric shape.
 5. A disc golf game system comprising (a) a pluralityof vertical chain segments and a plurality of horizontal chain segments,both types of chain segments being connected, at regular,symmetrically-spaced intervals; (b) a vertical support pole connected,at its upper end, to a horizontally-oriented, support rim by means of aplurality of beams extending outward from the vertical support pole andconnecting to the interior surface of the support rim; (c) a means forconnection, proximate the support rim, of the first end of each of thevertical chains to one of the beams; (d) a lower support pole extendingfrom, and concentric to, the first pole; (e) a plurality of horizontalspokes extending outward from the lower vertical support pole, eachspoke, at a uniform distance, being bent so as to extend upward formingsymmetrically-spaced vertical bars; (f) an upper railing, a mid-railing,and a bottom railing, connected, perimetrally, to the vertical bars,thereby forming a retaining grill about the lower support pole; and (g)a means of connecting the second end of each of the vertical chains tothe lower support pole.
 6. The disc golf game of claim 5 wherein (a) themeans for connection, proximate the support rim, of the first end ofeach of the vertical chains to one of the beams comprises a hook affixedto the inner surface of the support rim; and (b) the means of connectingthe second end of each of the vertical chains to the lower support polecomprises a coupling, the coupling encircling the outer circumference ofthe support pole, and being freely movable vertically along the supportpole.
 7. An improvement to a disc golf game system of the type whereinthe disc golf goal or target comprises primarily, a plurality ofuninterrupted vertical chains, the improvement being a means ofconnection, at regularly-spaced planar intervals between the verticalchains, of a series of horizontally-oriented chains, such that thehorizontally-oriented chains thereby restrain the maximum attainablelateral opening between consecutive vertical chains.
 8. The improveddisc golf game system of claim 7 wherein the means of connection, atregularly-spaced intervals between vertical chains, comprises a circularconnector ring, wherein the connector ring substitutes for, and performsas, a connection between two successive vertical chain links, whilesimultaneously substituting for, and performing as, a connection betweentwo successive horizontal chain links.